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Greymouth Star
Sport
France
It has taken him 16 years as a pro, but
Roger Federer finally has won all there is to
win in tennis.
Well, almost.
All four grand slam titles — a record 17 in
total — six ATP year-end titles, 23 masters
series, Olympic gold and now the Davis
Cup for Switzerland.
The Olympic title was in the doubles with
Stan Wawrinka in Beijing in 2008, so he
has yet to match Rafael Nadal and Andre
Agassi as the only men to have won all four
grand slam titles, Olympic singles gold and
the Davis Cup during the course of their
careers.
It is still an astonishing record for a player
many consider to be the greatest of all time.
The Davis Cup win was arguably the
hardest of them all for Federer to win,
involving as it does other players and
doubles action.
“ You can’t compare,” Federer said when
asked to weigh his feelings in winning
Wimbledon for the first time in 2003
against those on Sunday after he supplied
the point Switzerland needed to win the
Davis Cup final over France.
“ When I won Wimbledon, it was a total
shock, honestly. Davis Cup is something
that I knew was possible at some stage in
my career. Of course, there was the pressure
of being able to manage all this and make
everyone happy with all the support we had
for the team and everything. So it is a totally
different feeling.
“Also I was not alone on the court. This
changes totally everything.”
Federer’s first tournament as a professional
was in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad in
1998, where he lost in the round of 32.
Although rated as one of the best juniors
in the world, there was no real hint at that
time what tennis was about to witness as he
entered the professional sphere
It was not until he defeated Pete Sampras
at Wimbledon in a fourth-round match
in five sets in 2001 that his true potential
became clearer to see.
Still, he struggled to make much headway
in the grand slam events and question marks
were raised when he lost miserably to Luis
Horna in the first round of the French Open
in 2003.
Federer came up alongside a generation of
young champions who achieved immediate
success, like Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick
and Marat Safin.
While his contemporaries were shooting
up the rankings and winning grand slam
titles, he struggled to break through.
A month after his Paris flop, a change of
attitude reaped immediate dividends as
Federer produced a majestic display over
the Wimbledon fortnight, defeating Mark
Philippoussis in straight sets in the final.
The Federer era had begun in earnest and
he dominated tennis over the next four
years winning 10 grand slam titles. On two
occasions — in 2004 and 2007 — he won
three out of four.
By that time, Spanish claycourt king Rafael
Nadal had come along to become the player
Federer has always seen as his greatest rival.
Nadal ruled at Roland Garros and it took
his shock defeat at the hands of Robin
Soderling in 2009 to clear the way for
Federer to finally win the French Open, thus
completing the grand slam set.
By that time, he had won Olympic gold
with Wawrinka in 2008 and by Wimbledon
2012 he had taken his haul of grand slam
titles to an all-time best of 17.
Still the Davis Cup remained out of his
grasp and, at 33, time was clearly running
out when he and Wawrinka decided, after
the latter won the Australian Open at the
start of the year, that they would commit
totally to playing the Davis Cup this year.
They swept past a Novak Djokovic-less
Serbia in the first round, edged a ner vy
outing against Kazakhstan in the quarter-
finals and comfortably saw off Italy in the
semis.
France away in the final was a different
prospect, however, with players of the calibre
of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils on
the other side of the net.
A fractious match against Wawrinka in the
semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals
when the two argued and Federer damaged
his back did not help.
All that was swept aside in Lille as
Switzerland became just the 14th country
to win the Davis Cup.
Federer romped to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win
to hand the Swiss an unbeatable 3-1 lead
after Stan Wawrinka had won the opening
singles of the final and the world No 2 and
No 4 singles players had teamed up to win
the doubles on Saturday.
It was one of the greatest sporting
triumphs for Switzerland and a huge
personal milestone for Federer.
“For me personally, obviously I’m
unbelievably happy because I’ve been
playing in this competition for probably
almost 15 years now,” he said.
“I wanted it more for the guys and for
(coach) Severin (Luthi) and Stan, the staff
and everybody involved. This is one for the
boys.”
— AFP
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 9
JETBET 2
RACE 1
12.05pm
(NZT) MORRINSVILLE TROTTING CLUB MAIDEN 2200
$7000, MDN, 2200m
1 25534 SirAlSydh(6)
58.5
R Norvall
2 94x52 Chequesinthemail (13)
58.5
R Jones
3 x5042 All The Way (15)
58.5
-
4 02447 Mopane (3)
58.5
D Johnson
5 39208 Cruiseo h (9)
58.5 L Magorrian (a2)
6 9x805 Big Meadsy (2)
58.5
M Hills
7 00x68 King Pheroz h (12)
58.5 J Oliver (a3)
8 0x0x0 Meskerre (4)
58.5
S Collett
9 87880 Metallic h (8)
58.5
M Wenn
10
790 Thewayyourave (7)
57
C Lammas
11 33492 Style Is Eternal (1)
56.5
L Innes
12 x5874 Covered ‘N Bay (16)
56.5
C Grylls
13 704. Sih Rah (11)
56.5 A Jones (a3)
14
008 Royal Attitude (10)
56.5 J Whiteside (a3)
15 84088 Spy In The Huddle h (14) 56.5
C Dell (a1)
16 5x708 Zizi (5)
56.5 B Hutton (a3)
PICKS: Style Is Eternal Big Meadsy
Mopane
RACE 2
12.40pm
SUPER LIQUOR TE AROHA MAIDEN 1400
$7000, MDN, 1400m
1
482 Tell The World (13)
58.5
D Johnson
2 6348x Bachelor Brave b (10)
58.5
D Nolan
3 048x9 Street Wars (6)
58.5
M Dee (a1)
4 550x7 Ratmansky
58.5
Scratched
5
Opera Knight (8)
57
M Wenn
6
Bordeaux (4)
57
M Cameron
7
Single Shot (12)
57
M Hills
8
7 Worthiswaitngold (18)
57
M D Plessis
9
8x47 Orange Roughie (1)
56.5
C Grylls
10
65 Take Fire (19)
56.5
L Innes
11
Telling (11)
56.5
S Collett
12 858x9 Whatwillbewillbe (2)
56.5 U Holmquist (a3)
13
Four Day High (14)
56.5
R Jones
14
43 Bonnie Belle (3)
55
M Coleman
15
4 Diamond Duchess
55
Scratched
16
8 Enjoy The Ride (9)
55
K Myers
17
0 Strategicleigh (7)
58.5
-
18
7x The Kakahu Express (5) 55
S Spratt
19
67 Sisterhood (16)
55
-
20
00 Pinz Charming (17)
58.5
M Sweeney
21
00x Philly Lane h (15)
55
-
22 3x709 Rogart
58.5
Scratched
PICKS: Tell The World Orange
Roughie Bonnie Belle
RACE 3
1.15pm
CAPISTRANO LODGE MAIDEN 1400
$7000, MDN, 1400m
1
2 Goshawk (20)
58.5
C Lammas
2 544x0 Show MacCool (7)
58.5
M Dee (a1)
3
75 Mister Tom (9)
58.5
L Innes
4
Brilliant Magic (21)
58.5 M D Plessis
5
0 Chopper Read (13)
58.5
V Colgan
6
0 Give Gold (8)
58.5 B Hutton (a3)
7
Our Boy Roco h (3)
58.5
M Wenn
8
Seventeen Seventy (12) 57
S Spratt
9
Scaramouche (14)
57
L Cropp
10 82399 Permission Granted (15) 56.5 M Cameron
11 909x4 Centre Stage (16)
56.5 R Hutchings (a)
12 75x70 Bisquee h (19)
56.5
R Jones
13 x6075 Amuse (4)
56.5 A Jones (a3)
14
0x Go Teena (1)
56.5 L Magorrian (a2)
15
737 Jouet Cuvee h (11)
55
N Harris
16
0 In Memory Of (10)
55
K Myers
17
0 Strategicleigh (5)
58.5 J Oliver (a3)
18
7x The Kakahu Express
55
Scratched
19
67 Sisterhood (6)
55
D Johnson
20
00 Pinz Charming (18)
58.5
-
21
00x Philly Lane h (17)
55
-
22 3x709 Rogart (2)
58.5
-
PICKS: Mister Tom Centre Stage
Jouet Cuvee
RACE 4
1.50pm
GEOFF BRINDLEY MEMORIAL MAIDEN 3YO 1000
$7000, MDN 3YO, 1000m
1
Paintball (9)
57.5
S Collett
2
5x Trickle Down h (1)
57.5 M Cameron
3
08x The Great Fox (15)
57.5
L Cropp
4
50x Bountiful (3)
55.5 M D Plessis
5
3x Dinah Lee h (8)
55.5
M Coleman
6
260x Deema (13)
55.5
C Grylls
7
7x4 Snowdrop b (10)
55.5
L Innes
8
456x Hot Topic (4)
55.5
K Myers
9
Sombreuil (16)
55.5
-
10
Capistrano Pearl (6)
55.5
D Johnson
11
Danmulan (12)
55.5
M Chui
12
0x0 Elusive Boxers (5)
55.5
S Spratt
13
9x Lady De Lago h (11)
55.5 J Oliver (a3)
14
0 Louisiana Jazz (14)
55.5
C Lammas
15
Sister O’Reilly (2)
55.5
-
16
Upfrontncentre (7)
55.5 L Magorrian (a2)
17
07x Roman Aspect (17)
57.5
-
PICKS: Dinah Lee Snowdrop Trickle
Down
RACE 5
2.25pm
AARON HADDON BUILDERS LTD R75 1000
$8000, Rating 75 Benchmark, 1000m
1 0x676 Alice Webb Ellis (6)
59
M D Plessis
2 1419x Vitali m (2)
59
B Hutton (a3)
3 5x403 Cracker h (3)
58
J Oliver (a3)
4 1096x Gold Hunter tmh (9)
58
A Jones (a3)
5 63550 Snow Excuse m (15)
58
-
6 911x0 Lady Royale (4)
57.5
Z Moki (a3)
7 x567x Hot In Pink d (8)
57.5 L Magorrian (a2)
8 x78x0 Golden Downs
57.5
Scratched
9 346x8 Macka’s Back m (13)
57.5
S Collett
10 2204x Spare The Moment (10) 57
R Jones
11 114x6 Haypin m (1)
56.5
C Grylls
12 53x45 Custer (14)
56
M Cameron
13 629x9 A’Larose t (12)
55.5
D Johnson
14 74644 Neutron Star m (7)
55.5
K Myers
15 3159x Domanae h (5)
55
V Colgan
16 3182x Soltina
54.5
Scratched
17 85508 Hug A Ginga m (11)
54
-
PICKS: Haypin Cracker Vitali
RACE 6
3.00pm
RACING TE AROHA PLACEMENT SCHEME MAIDEN 1200
$7000, MDN, 1200m
1
Snapshot (1)
58.5
C Grylls
2
0x0x Almighty Sun (11)
58.5
R Norvall
3
8 Country Lad (4)
58.5
D Nolan
4
Executor h (14)
58.5
M Wenn
5 284x2 Wealth Prince b (13)
57
M D Plessis
6
4 All Jokes Aside (6)
57
A Jones (a3)
7
0 Kauri Man
57
Scratched
8 x40x3 Clareville Flight (9)
56.5
C Lammas
9 5x90x Ballerina Angelina h (7)
56.5
K Myers
10
0x Lady Cruella (2)
56.5 K Joyce (a3)
11
40. The Secret’s Out (5)
55
D Johnson
12
5 Ashwini (8)
55
S Collett
13
05x Barranquilla (3)
55
M Cameron
14
0 Parker’s Piece (12)
55
L Innes
15
Somethingvain (10)
55
S Spratt
PICKS: Wealth Prince Clareville Flight
All Jokes Aside
RACE 7
3.35pm
BEN COLLINS ELECTRICAL MAIDEN 1200
$7000, MDN, 1200m
1 6222x Seize The Moment b (4) 58.5
O Bosson
2
0x Halong Bay h (2)
58.5
C Grylls
3
50 Twickenham (6)
58.5
R Jones
4
0x Fortissimo (9)
58.5
D Nolan
5
Croyde (3)
57
D Johnson
6
Great ‘N Gold (13)
57
K Myers
7
7 Saki’s Ace (12)
57
S Spratt
8 25x79 Light Up A Screen (11)
56.5 M D Plessis
9
36x Poetical (8)
56.5
L Cropp
10
Zory Star (10)
56.5
T Thornton
11
Sonobella (14)
55
L Innes
12
9x Hubble Bubble (5)
55
M Wenn
13
Pinstripe (7)
55
C Lammas
14
8 Sheselusive (1)
55
M Coleman
PICKS: Seize The Moment Poetical
Saki’s Ace
RACE 8
4.10pm
NZB INSURANCE PEARL SERIES MAIDEN F& M 1200
$12,000, MDN F& M, 1200m
1 x2442 Born Happy (1)
57.5
K Myers
2 2356x Bliss Street b (14)
57.5 M Cameron
3
32x Out Of Friendship (8)
57.5
C Grylls
4 6436x Elusive Kitty (16)
57.5
O Bosson
5 x448x Hearsay (19)
57.5
V Colgan
6
00x3 Be Beautiful (18)
57.5
Z Moki (a3)
7
454 Solar (5)
57.5
S Collett
8
54x Sparkling Sword b (12)
57.5
M Chui
9 0466x Abbey Rose h (9)
57.5 A Jones (a3)
10 48226 Red Robyn
56
Scratched
11
23 Brown Girl b (3)
56
M D Plessis
12
42. Aotearower (17)
56
M Coleman
13
8x2 Don’t Look Back (2)
56 R Hutchings (a)
14 620x0 Reachin’ Out (6)
56 L Magorrian (a2)
15
4 Elucidate (4)
56
D Johnson
16 x7036 Hysteria Lane (10)
56
C Lammas
17
Gladstone Belle (11)
56
-
18
Laseef
56
Scratched
19
80x Lowrider (13)
56
-
20
Our Iffraaj h (7)
56
S Spratt
21
Viva La Jour
56
Scratched
22 070x8 Fanta Aztec (15)
56
-
PICKS: Born Happy Out Of Friendship
Brown Girl
RACE 9
4.45pm
GOLDPINE INDUSTRIES LTD R75 2200
$8000, Rating 75 Benchmark, 2200m
1 35373 Cornelius m (1)
59.5 L Magorrian (a2)
2 0x087 Hiace (9)
59
B Hutton (a3)
3 11667 Nancylee tm (3)
57.5
-
4 58x84 Letmeby m (5)
57.5
S Collett
5 83056 Alfonze m (8)
56
C Lammas
6 15x90 Dubai Shuffle d (2)
56
N Harris
7 215x4 Enjay b (10)
55
L Innes
8 4x045 Inis Rose m (7)
54
M Cameron
9 00700 Wairaka (6)
54
R Jones
10 73060 Light The Way (4)
54
J Oliver (a3)
PICKS: Letmeby Cornelius Enjay
RACE 10
5.20pm
STRONGBUILT SHEDS-BARNS & STABLES R65 1600
$7000, Rating 65 Benchmark*, 1600m
1 22420 Doiknowyou
60
Scratched
2 46x61 Gotta Keeper th (9)
58.5
R Jones
3 01x38 Handsome Hermes dm (2) 58
C Grylls
4 8x510 Liquid Asset t (7)
57.5
S Spratt
5 31x08 Ican’tstoptherain d (12)
57
M Dee (a1)
6 4x446 Matagouri tdb (4)
56.5
O Bosson
7 820x0 Bagsagold (1)
56.5 M Cameron
8 19667 Our Eejay h (6)
56.5 A Jones (a3)
9 82286 All About Fun mh (8)
56
K Myers
10 3x309 Cape Mapperley db (14) 55.5
V Colgan
11 04x93 Dezignator (11)
55.5
D Johnson
12 05x08 Murdoch (13)
55.5
M Coleman
13 02420 Prickley Princess m (5)
54
J Oliver (a3)
14 x6937 Mrs Sin (10)
54 L Magorrian (a2)
15 20089 Skai Glen h (3)
54
L Cropp
PICKS: Matagouri Dezignator
Handsome Hermes
RACE 11
5.53pm
TE AROHA VETERINARY SERVICES R65 1600
$7000, Rating 65 Benchmark*, 1600m
1 00x50 Bob Valdez
59
Scratched
2 10x07 He’s A Bigdeel d (4)
57
D Nolan
3 32035 So Keep Me tmh (11)
56.5
M Wenn
4 6x09x Good Will (12)
56.5
M Chui
5 35x00 Hamacho (1)
56 R Hutchings (a)
6 13x09 Diorella (14)
55.5 M D Plessis
7 26404 Doucette m (10)
55.5
C Lammas
8 05x70 Bajour (2)
55.5
L Cropp
9 10x70 Tavake (3)
55.5 A Jones (a3)
10 14860 Thebestofyou tm (13)
55.5 B Hutton (a3)
11 61726 Dahls Delight td (9)
55
R Jones
12 950x7 Justintime (5)
55
M Coleman
13 77x50 Istilane d (8)
55 L Magorrian (a2)
14 0x00x Kick Buttowski (7)
55
S Collett
15 10x67 Whatz Occurring d (6)
54
M Cameron
PICKS: So Keep Me Dahls Delight
Doucette
Te Aroha tomorrow
Iain Hyndman
of the Wanganui Chronicle
Thomas Russell cannot remember
anything about the freak accident
that left him paralysed from the
neck down.
But that does not worry the
31-year-old jockey — he is not
looking back; he is looking for ward.
For him, dwelling on the negative
is simply not an option.
“The doctors haven’t said I will
regain the use of my limbs again
...
but they haven’t said I won’t
either,” Russell said, back home
in Whanganui at the weekend for
the first time since disaster struck
when he fell from his horse on June
19.
“I
know false hope is not
something to cling to, but I am
optimistic I will make some
progress. How far I don’t know,
but I’m resigned to dealing with
whatever happens.
“A positive attitude is the only
attitude to have.”
The accident happened while
riding trackwork at Raymond
Connors’ track in Bulls. He was
flown to Christchurch Hospital
before being transferred to the
Burwood Spinal Unit.
Initially on a ventilator to
help him breathe, Russell has
improved substantially and, though
wheelchair-bound, is able to work
with the specialist staff to adapt to
a new way of life.
Partner Pip D’Arcy-Brain has
been by his side since the accident.
They are assessing what alterations
need to be done to their home
before they return for good on
December 17.
The jockey has no recollection
of the accident or even earlier
that morning when he rode at
the jumpouts (unofficial trials) in
Whanganui.
“I can’t remember anything about
it — apparently it was just the
awkward way I fell,” he said.
“Nothing was to blame. The horse
was not a nasty type or anything.”
D’Arcy-Brain said “Raymond
and I saw what happened and
rushed over and comforted him
until the medics arrived,”
The fall caused a break at the base
of his neck.
“I have a break between the C4
and C5 vertebrae, but the spinal
chord wasn’t severed, it was just
severely bruised. Your spinal chord
is as soft as a banana,” Russell
said.
“The doctors and staff at Burwood
are highly specialised and great
to deal with. They have been an
enormous help in my recovery.”
When you see the couple together,
it is immediately obvious that their
bond is also an enormous factor.
Pip is naturally bubbly and her
effer vescence and positivity are
infectious.
“Pip has been down in
Christchurch with me the whole
time, although she has come home
a couple of times to arrange things
with ACC and to talk to the
architects. She’s been great.”
ACC has already funded the
construction of access ramps at the
house and Pip has been liaising
with architects to eliminate interior
obstacles.
“ACC suggested we come home
for a few days to identify any other
obstacles,” she said.
“Luckily Tommy is only little and
doesn’t need a really big wheelchair
so can get around the house okay.
There are a few things that will
need doing.”
The Thomas Russell Fundraising
Campaign — set up by fellow
jockey Darryl Bradley — has
already reached nearly $160,000.
“ What Darryl has done is
amazing,” Russell said.
“ While we knew each other as
jockeys and shared the odd ride to
race meetings, I wouldn’t have said
we were best mates.
“But we are very goods mates
now and I can’t thank him enough.
“Then there’s all the generous
people who helped and contributed.
It’s been a very humbling
experience and certainly helped
make the ordeal less stressful.”
He also paid tribute to former
jockey Tony Williams who passed
away last week at the age of 58.
Williams’ successful riding career
was cut short when he was involved
in an eight-horse fall at Rotorua in
1984 which left him confined to a
wheelchair.
Before his death, Williams
donated items, including much of
his riding gear, to be auctioned to
raise funds for Russell.
“I ’d never met the man, but what
he did just showed what a kind and
caring person he was.”
The junior touch
competition continues
this week at the Karoro
Domain.
The draw is. —
4pm: Karoro Boys
v Cobden I (field 1,
Suburbs); Rogues v
Blaketown (field 2,
Suburbs); GM Green
v GM Red (field 3,
domain); Cobden 3 v
Karoro Jnr A (field 4,
domain); Paroa Jnr v GM
Blue (field 5).
4.30pm: Pacers v
Grey Main Snr (field
1, Suburbs); Cobden 2
v Karoro Mixed (field
2, Suburbs); Runanga
v Karoro Girls (field 3,
domain); Marist v GM
White (field 4, domain);
4.30pm Karoro Jnr B v
Cobden 3 (field 5).
London
Nathaniel Clyne’s late equaliser
earned high-flying Southampton
a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa today,
denying Paul Lambert a much-
needed victory in his 100th
match in charge of the Premier
League strugglers.
England international Clyne’s
rasping strike for second-placed
Saints after 81 minutes left 16th-
placed Villa still searching for
their first win since September
13.
Gabriel Agbonlahor benefited
from Southampton goalkeeper
Fraser Forster’s rush of blood to
the head to fire Villa ahead after
29 minutes, the stopper racing
out of his box to clear, only for
Agbonlahor to beat him to the
ball.
The striker kept his composure
to slot home Villa’s sixth league
goal of the season, the lowest in
England’s top four divisions.
“It’s a good point gained against
a team who had swept everything
in front of them aside and if you
look at the money spent by these
sides it’s a big difference from
us,” Lambert told the BBC.
“ We’ve got six first team players
out at the minute so I can’t
criticise the team.”
Southampton appeared out of
sorts despite a confident opening,
their best moment coming when
Brad Guzan was forced to make
a sprawling save to deny Sadio
Mane, tipping his low shot
around the post.
The visitors plugged away after
the break and took home a point
when Ryan Bertrand pulled the
ball back for fellow full back
Clyne, who made his England
debut earlier this month, to
smash past Guzan from 12m.
Ronald Koeman’s Southampton
side, who had risen to second
on the back of eight wins from
nine games, are six points behind
leaders Chelsea after 12 matches.
“ I didn’t come for one point
tonight. I thought we had a team
good enough to win but after
conceding it was very difficult,”
the Dutchman said.
“ We didn’t create as many
chances as we should have and
we missed some fitness and some
quality, it was a misunderstanding
defensively that made it more
difficult for us.”
Southampton now face a tough
test of their credentials to mount
a sustained challenge for a top
four place with their next three
games against Manchester City,
on Sunday, then Arsenal and
Manchester United. — Reuters
Melbourne
Australia captain Michael Clarke has no
intention of retiring from international
cricket in the next 12 months as he continues
to battle a chronic back problem that could
rule him out of next week’s first test against
India.
“No I don’t (have any plans to retire in the
next 12 months),” he told Australia’s Nine
Network as questions about his long-term
future with the side begin to swirl after he
sustained a third hamstring injury since
August.
“My goal is to continue to play for Australia
for a lot longer; I love both forms of the
game. I want to continue to play both forms
of the game.”
The 33-year-old is under an injury cloud
for the first match against India at the Gabba
in Brisbane after he suffered the hamstring
injury, which is caused by his back problem,
in Australia’s one-day series with South
Africa.
He was told by selectors he would need to
play in a warm-up match against India in
Adelaide this week to prove his fitness for
the test that starts on December 4, though
he then said he had been ruled out for that
match later on Monday.
“I’ve been pulled out of, or passed unfit, to
play the game in Adelaide,” he told reporters
at a promotional event in Sydney.
“The medical team in the Australian cricket
team have ruled me out of that game. The
next game that I am available for, if I can be
fit, is grade cricket on Saturday.
Hopefully I can make myself available, then
it is completely up to the selectors to work
out what to do.
“I would never walk out onto that field,
whether it ’s for my state, my club or country,
if I am not 100%.”
Vice-captain Brad
Haddin, having
recovered from a shoulder injury, is set to lead
the side in a test for the first time, becoming
Australia’s 45th test skipper.
Both Clarke and high performance chief
Pat Howard have anointed the veteran
wicketkeeper as a suitable caretaker captain,
amid calls for Steve Smith to be blooded.
“I ’m a real good vice-captain. I don’t know
about captain. If the time comes and that ’s
the decision they decide to go with, I’m
comfortable,” Haddin said.
“I can lead a cricket team.”
Phillip Hughes and Shaun Marsh are the
leading contenders to take Clarke’s batting
spot for the Gabba test.
Chief selector Rod Marsh was cagey when
asked about a shadow batsman yesterday.
“ We’re not naming anyone just yet.
Whether or not we have one, that ’s for us to
know and you to find out and I’m not telling
you,” Marsh said.
Clarke was provisionally included in
Australia’s 12-man squad for the opening
clash of the four-test series against India
when it was announced yesterday morning.
To stay in the squad, Marsh noted the
hamstrung captain must play in the tour
match against India.
Clarke seemingly confirmed on Monday
afternoon he would not play that game.
“I ’ve been pulled out of, or passed unfit to
play the game in Adelaide. The medical team
in the Australian cricket team have ruled me
out of that game,” Clarke said.
The 33-year-old was determined to play for
his club side Western Suburbs on Saturday,
saying he could prove then that he’s ready for
the Gabba.
CA responded later by dismissing both
suggestions.
“S hould he be in a position to really progress
his running in the coming days, our desire is
that he plays for the CA XI in the two-day
tour match against India at the Adelaide
Oval,” CA said in a statement late yesterday.
“Accordingly, a final decision on his fitness
has not yet been determined and he has not
yet been ruled out of the tour match by the
CA medical team.
“If heisnotabletogetupfortheCA
XI game, and given his history with this
recurring injury, he will be ruled out of any
cricket this week and the first test.
“O ur focus will shift to getting him fit to
play the second test in Adelaide. ”
— AAP
PICTURE: Supplied
Winning leap on Dreamtime Jazz
Greymouth Pony Club member Ella Rae Wood on her pony Dreamtime Jazz at the recent Christchurch
A and P Show, where she won the 1m pony show jumping class, and also gained a second in the same
event the previous day. Another Greymouth competitor, Courtney Thompson, won the hack 1.10m class
on Spring Air What Next and was second in the young rider class on Arovet Li.
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